JuJu Watkins attends Team USA camp, remains sidelined with injury

USC star JuJu Watkins is participating in her first senior Team USA camp this weekend at Duke. But unlike the other 16 players present, Watkins is not taking the floor as she continues recovering from tearing the ACL in her right knee last March during the NCAA Tournament.

As a result, she’s been a keen observer.

“It’s definitely a pinch-me moment,” Watkins said. “I’ve dreamt of being a part of this atmosphere. To see that actually kind of come true in a sense and seeing that I’m headed towards the right direction, it’s definitely satisfying.”

Watkins said she is “finally” starting to work out again and getting her hands on the basketball. She said she is participating in some light individual shooting and ballhandling.

“I’m just taking it one day at a time, really enjoying the process,” she said. “I would love to be playing, but this is just where I’m at right now, and I’ve accepted that. I’m getting better physically. My body’s starting to feel stronger one day at a time.”

Watkins made first-team All-American appearances in her first two collegiate seasons, winning the Naismith and Wooden Awards last year. The Trojans were a No. 1 seed for the second consecutive tournament when Watkins tore her ACL during USC’s second-round game against Mississippi State. Without her, USC lost in the Elite Eight to UConn for the second straight season.

In September, USC officially ruled Watkins out for the season, eliminating the possibility of a return prior to 2026-27. Watkins has been relegated to the bench this college season, where she has watched USC and the Trojans’ latest star freshman Jazzy Davidson get off to a 7-2 start.

“She’s been killing it, and she’s such a great student of the game. So I’m just happy to help her in any way that I can,” Watkins said of Davidson, who is averaging 16.7 points, seven rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.

Sue Bird, the newly-appointed managing director of Team USA, said that inviting Watkins to the national team camp was a no-brainer.

“I think it’s more about the exposure,” Bird said. “Even when you’re just around a team, it’s helpful, like something is building, something is happening there. So, I think it’s great for JuJu, who’s obviously incredibly talented.”

Team USA coach Kara Lawson, who was hired in September, said she is using the camp as an opportunity to get to know Watkins.

“We wanted her here,” Lawson said. “You can see there’s a great deal of talent there, and that’s somebody that’s gonna be in the conversation obviously in the future. We were really intentional about inviting her here and having her be part of it. I think there’s great value in having her observe and be around the group.”

Watkins was noncommittal about the prospect of playing in the World Cup in 2026, which would be 18 months after her injury. She’s set a goal of suiting up for Team USA at the 2028 Olympics, which will be held in her hometown of Los Angeles.

“That’s been my North Star this whole time, so to get this opportunity means a lot,” Watkins said.

She added that she enjoyed “feeling the energy” at the camp and picked up on the communication and leadership styles of her peers.

“It’s just something that you can see and automatically it brings up your standards,” she said. “I’ve just been maximizing it, meeting new people, making new connections. Just trying to get the most out of me being here.”

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

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